Lagos Raises Alarm Over Lassa Fever, Urges Residents to Stay Vigilant
The Lagos State Government has urged residents to remain vigilant against Lassa fever, warning that the disease continues to pose a major public health threat across Nigeria despite the low number of cases recorded in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, gave the warning in a post shared on his official X account on Sunday, stressing the need for sustained awareness, proper hygiene and preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease.
According to him, Lagos has recorded only a few cases so far due to swift medical response and effective isolation measures that prevented community transmission.
“While Lassa fever is a major public health challenge across Nigeria, Lagos has seen only a few cases. Thanks to swift medical action, these cases were rapidly isolated and treated, preventing community spread,” he said.
Abayomi noted that both conventional and traditional healthcare providers must remain alert, while communities should be educated on how the disease spreads and ways to prevent infection.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted mainly from rodents to humans through contact with infected urine, faeces, saliva or blood.
The disease is endemic in several West African countries and causes seasonal outbreaks in Nigeria, especially during the dry season.
The commissioner warned that some species of bushmeat could also carry the virus, increasing the risk of transmission through hunting, handling or consumption of infected animals.
He explained that infection could occur through direct contact with contaminated rodent waste, consumption of contaminated food or water, inhalation of infected dust particles, or exposure to contaminated household items.
Abayomi added that human-to-human transmission could also occur through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons.
He stressed that the disease is largely preventable through proper hygiene and environmental sanitation.
The commissioner advised residents to store food in rodent-proof containers, maintain clean surroundings and avoid contact with rodents and wild animals.
He also cautioned against buying, handling or consuming live or freshly killed bushmeat from unknown sources.
“Let’s stay vigilant, practice strict hygiene, and protect our homes, our communities, and our healthcare heroes,” he said.
Meanwhile, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 191 deaths linked to Lassa fever were recorded between April 27 and May 3.
The agency said 23 states across 106 local government areas had reported at least one confirmed case this year.
According to the NCDC, 84 per cent of confirmed cases were recorded in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo states, with people aged between 21 and 30 years accounting for the highest number of infections.
